Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Shade shrub ideas

Hydrangea macrophylla – Zones 5-11. Gorgeous ball-shaped clusters of flowers throughout the summer months and attractive winter seedheads make hydrangea shrubs a well-loved garden shrub for mixed borders, perennial beds and other garden situations. Hygrandea cultivars are available from 4-12' tall and with flowers in pink, blue, white or other colors making them a flexible choice for a part-shade garden spot. Hydrangea macrophylla is known as the “big leaf hydrangeas” and they provide large foliage and ornamental flowers in part shade to full shade gardens. See more about Growing Hydrangeas.

Kalmia latifolia – Zones 4-9. Mountain laurel shrubs are beautiful woodland native shrubs that do very well in part shade or dappled shade gardens. Broadleaf evergreen foliage and attractive late spring flowers are part of what this shade loving shrub has to offer a creative bed or border. Mountain Laurels are medium to large shrubs that grow anywhere from 5-15' tall and wide and make an ornamental evergreen backdrop for other perennials, shrubs and annuals. Mountain laurels need well-drained soil and do not perform well in clay soils but do well when given slightly acidic, well-drained and shady garden conditions.

Kerria japonica – Zones 4-9. A versatile shrub that only grows a few feet tall but spreads to 6' or more with dense, twiggy growth, Japanese kerrias are attractive year-round. These shrubs prefer afternoon sun but tolerate nearly full shade making them great choices for a shady border. Japanese kerrias are spring flowering shrubs and variegated forms are now available for season long beauty before the winter kills the foliage and just the architectural structure remains. Japanese kerria shrubs are ornamental flowering shrubs that prefer moderate to fertile soil and shady but well-drained areas.



Read more at Suite101: Flowering Shrubs for Shade: Large Plants for Shady Garden Areas http://shade-loving-plants.suite101.com/article.cfm/flowering_shrubs_for_shade#ixzz0n6NGFtR8

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